OUR LIFE FOR GOD: FOR HIS GLORY OR OURS?
Colossians 3:23-25
INTRODUCTION:
A. Folks, you are here this morning to bring glory to God!
1. That is what life is all about – God’s Glory!
2. I hope you do, but if not don’t worry, hopefully by the end of our time together you will.
B. As we begin this message this morning I must point out that our passage falls in between two verses dealing with slaves and masters
1. Col. 3:22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
2. Col. 4:1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
3. Paul was dealing with a part of society that had grievous atrocities (to say nothing about the act of slavery itself.)
a. It is estimated by historians that anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 of the population in ancient Rome were slaves that would amount to about 40-60 million people
b. That is a significant portion of society that needed to hear about how to honor God in their present position in society
4. So Paul addresses the issue
C. Praise God, today in the United States of American we do not have slaves and we understand that slavery is not a part of God’s plan for society – here or anywhere.
1. So how can we grow from this portion of scripture?
2. Well, we are servants of the Lord Jesus Christ – are we not?
- Paul, Timothy, Jude, John all considered themselves servants – slaves
3. And so I believe we can make much broader application – that being to us!
4. What Paul states to slaves in the Roman empire we can apply to the servants of Jesus Christ: He is our master and we are His servants
D. It is with this idea in mind that I want us to look at Col. 3:23-25 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. We will look at two things:
1. First Purpose In Life
2. Secondly Promises Of Life
Lets bow our heads and ask God to open our hearts and minds to the message He has for us. PRAY
As servants of the Lord Jesus Christ we should have a single
I. PURPOSE IN LIFE - Col. 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
A. Let me begin by asking a question: How do we view our life with God?
1. A Sunday Activity?
2. An extra-curricular activity: paying dues, taking what you want and skipping it as you like?
3. As a “App” for use when we want it?
4. For a fall-back: if this doesn’t work out I’ll fall back on Him?
5. It’s sad to say but these are how many Christians view their relationship to God – oh, they might not describe them in these ways, but they lives say so.
B. Living according to these ideas we miss the real purpose of life.
1. Our passage says, whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord…
a. Think about this. If Paul is writing to a group of people who had it really tough (slaves), how much more should he expect it from us?
b. Listen to other portions of scripture on this matter:
1) Col. 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
2) 1 Cor. 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
c. And Jesus told us the first commandment (that means in precedence) is …thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. Mark 12:30
2. When we live for God, making this our highest goal we solve a lot of other problems
a. We can stop worrying about men!
b. Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
c. Though a man be in slavery, he can still glorify God
d. What a sad testimony when free men are enslaved to sin and do not glorify God!
C. On May 10, 1940 Winston Churchill’s made his first speech to the house of commons as prime minister.
1. His closing remarks were "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival. Let that be realized; no survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for."
2. Folks, even more than Great Britain, God is worthy of our blood, toil, tears, and sweat. His kingdom is of more importance!
a. He is worthy of our best efforts, our highest achievement.
b. He is worthy of excellence – He is worthy of glory!
c. There are many causes to which we could devote our time and effort. d. Small causes, large causes.
1) Collecting stamps. Rebuilding old cars. Leading scout troops.
2) Practicing medicine or law. Climbing Mount Everest.
3) Building a business. Running for public office. Raising a family.
4) Keeping our lawn well-manicured. Lowering our golf handicap.
5) Tutoring disabled children. Staying physically fit. Finding a cure for cancer. Finding new galaxies. Finding rare Beanie Babies.
3. But none of these will amount to a hill of beans in eternity, especially if we have left God out or put Him in some other than first place in our lives.
D. If there is one thing Paul is trying to get across to us in the letter it is that life is not about us or things or activities – it’s about living for the glory of God.
1. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Col. 3:1-2
2. We would do well to contemplate what this means to us and the ramifications it could and should have on our lives, because, if for no other reason it has a direct impact on our future.
Our purpose in life drives all else, as we will see in this next section
II. PROMISES OF LIFE, Col. 3:24-25 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 25But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
A. Our sovereign God is both righteous and true
1. When He makes a promise He always follows through – this we can be assured of
2. This being the case we should know that the two promises made in these two verses are sure. They are:
a. We shall receive a reward for doing well
b. We shall receive for the wrong we have done
3. This ought to be motivating and sobering at the same time.
B. Motivating - Receiving for the good - Col. 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
1. Much is said about our rewards in Scriptures
a. 1 Cor. 3:13-14 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
b. 2 Cor. 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
2. If slaves were being encouraged to do well – to and for their masters, thus being promised the reward of the inheritance by God, how much more do we need to think on these words?
3. God wants to reward us: we read of
a. The Incorruptible crown, 1 Cor 9:25
b. Crown of Righteousness, 2 Tim 4:8
c. Crown of Life, Jam 1:12
d. Crown of Glory, Rev 2:10
4. And if you need more proof read Rev 2-3 and notice what the Lord promises to those who overcome.
5. I don’t know about you but I want the rewards – it happens by living for the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength so as to bring Him glory!
C. But then there is the other side of the coin, sobering - Col. 3:25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done:…
1. God is going, if I can say it this way, reward us for what we do wrong or evil, as well.
2. If we know the Lord as Savior we know that it will not be the loss of our salvation.
3. We don’t have as much specific information on this aspect of God’s reward system.
4. In the passage read about just a few minutes ago 1 Cor. 3:13-14 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
- This is added, If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
5. And if you remember 2 Cor. 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good OR bad.
6. I personally think surprises are over rated – I don’t want to be surprised in this area of my life – Do You?
D. The great thing is we don’t have to be surprised.
1. If we will live for the Lord Jesus Christ in this life – making Him our first priority and seek to live for His glory, we can anticipate rewards!
2. His promise is sure – its going to happen and for His glory!
CONCLUSION: As we close let me bring one more short phrase to our attention
A. Col. 3:25…: and there is no respect of persons.
1. The righteous judge will be fair and impartial
2. The slaves of the Roman empire might have felt belittled by man but not God!
3. We might feel belittled by man but not God!
a. You do well in your salvation and you will have reward
b. And it will not be a matter of age, color, nationality, gender, or denomination.
c. For in Christ we …have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Col. 3:10-11
4. It will be about our relationship to Jesus Christ and what we did for Him after He became our Lord and Savior!
B. Let me close with these words found in 1 Cor. 7:21-23 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
C. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Tim. 1:17
